Air hostess-turned-cop untraceable after FIR in Madhya Pradesh land deal

A senior Madhya Pradesh police officer has become untraceable after being booked over an alleged coercive land deal in Katni district. She has meanwhile approached a local court for anticipatory bail.Neha Pachisia, who serves as Katni’s City Superintendent of Police, was booked along with Kshitij Raj Barapatre and Maroof Ahmed Hanfi. The case concerns the sale of 2.15 hectares of land belonging to the family of Akash Lodhi, an accused in a murder case.Pachisia, a former air hostess who later joined the police force, was attending a departmental training programme in Bhopal from August 18 to 20 when the FIR was registered. She allegedly left after learning about the case and has not been traced since.Barapatre and Hanfi are also untraceable. Police have sealed Pachisia’s office and are searching for the three accused. A Special Investigation Team is likely to be formed. The Madhya Pradesh government has suspended Pachisia on the directions of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.LAND DEAL LINKED TO MURDER CASEThe allegations surfaced after Lodhi secured default bail because police allegedly failed to file a chargesheet in the murder case within the mandatory 90-day period. After his release, Lodhi complained that his family had been pressured into selling its land while he was in jail. The complaint reached the Chief Minister’s Helpline, prompting senior officers to examine the whole case.According to the complaint, Lodhi’s father, Ramesh Lodhi, was allegedly made to stay at a house for two days under pressure from Pachisia. He was then taken in a government vehicle to Kanhwara, where the land was registered.The deal was allegedly finalised for Rs 1.07 crore. The family claimed it received only a cheque for Rs 15 lakh at the time of registration and was promised the remaining Rs 92 lakh within seven days. The balance was allegedly never paid.The inquiry found that the land was valued at about Rs 82.86 lakh under the government guideline rate. The registration documents reportedly recorded a payment of only Rs 18.20 lakh.Investigators are also examining an alleged transfer of Rs 15 lakh from Barapatre’s bank account to Hanfi’s. The complaint described Barapatre as Pachisia’s alleged partner and close associate.PREVIOUS EXTORTION ALLEGATIONPachisia was already facing separate inquiries over an alleged extortion attempt during a vehicle inspection.Transport operator Mahendra Jain accused her of demanding Rs 30,000 after one of his trucks was stopped during an inspection on July 21.Jain alleged that Rs 25,000 was collected in cash at the spot and that the remaining Rs 5,000 was to be paid through the driver the next day. He claimed he was threatened that the truck would be impounded if he refused to pay.Katni Superintendent of Police Abhinay Vishwakarma ordered a preliminary inquiry after Jain submitted a complaint and supporting evidence.Pachisia’s driver, constable Keshav Singh, was suspended, and the probe was handed over to Additional Superintendent of Police Kamal Maurya. Three police stations were also removed from Pachisia’s jurisdiction and assigned to another officer.- Ends(With inputs from Amar Tamrakar)Published By: Aprameya RaoPublished On: Aug 23, 2026 19:59 IST